SALARY: $23-$26/hour DOE. Only a few in-home caregivers have experience doing what is called a bowel program for a person with a spinal cord injury. In this job as you gain experience and skill, it is counted toward your overall level of experience and raises your salary. Don’t worry if you have no training specific to specialized toileting procedures. You will be taught everything you need to know, beginning by shadowing the current caregiver in this position.
Most people do not have a spinal cord injury. This makes going to the toilet easy. The normal person has no difficulty controlling when they will go to the bathroom and when they won’t.
This sense of easy control is taken away when a person sustains a spinal cord injury. After an SCI, the person no longer has easy control, but by practicing careful toileting methods, can regain a sense of control.
The caregiver who accepts this position will help me lead a healthier and happier life. We do this by working on toileting issues, such as preventing incontinence and constipation. My schedule is set up and is relatively inflexible because my body will respond much better on a fixed schedule.
It is important that I keep my toileting routine stable so I can feel more confident at home and in social or business situations.
SCHEDULE: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:45am-1:30pm. My caregiver comes to help me get the morning started and gives me breakfast. Then we begin the toileting procedure. Once this is complete, I am set up in bed with my rolling lap desk and I begin my day.
REQUIREMENTS: You must be physically healthy and strong, have a valid driver's license and insurance, as well as personal reliable transportation.
PLEASE RESPOND by describing any special experience you have had and attach a resume or a detailed outline of your work experience.